I’m honestly shaken. Today (July 24, 2025), Hulk Hogan—Terry Gene Bollea—passed away at 71 after a suspected cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home. WWE and local police confirmed it, and the entire wrestling world is crying together. He wasn’t just a wrestler… he was the pop‑culture superhero of the 80s and 90s, the face of WrestleMania, and the guy who made even non-fans know what “Hulkamania” felt like. Rest easy, legend. 💔
Quick Snapshot
- Full name: Terry Gene Bollea
- Born: August 11, 1953, Augusta, Georgia
- Died: July 24, 2025, Clearwater, Florida (age 71)
- Cause of death: Suspected cardiac arrest (official cause pending)
- Spouses: Linda Claridge (1983–2009), Jennifer McDaniel (2010–2021), Sky Daily (m. 2023)
- Children: Brooke & Nick
- Estimated net worth: ~$25 million (Celebrity Net Worth / SI)
- World titles: 12 recognized world championships across WWF/WWE & WCW
- Hall of Fame: Two-time WWE Hall of Famer (2005, nWo in 2020)
- Iconic moments: Bodyslamming André the Giant at WrestleMania III, creating the nWo in WCW, winning back-to-back Royal Rumbles (1990, 1991)
The boy from Georgia who became the face of wrestling
Hogan started as Terry Bollea, a kid who loved music and baseball before pro wrestling took over his life. He debuted in 1977, but everything changed when he signed with WWF in 1983. Vince McMahon Sr. saw something different in him—something larger-than-life—and the “Hulk Hogan” character exploded. By the mid-80s, Hulkamania was literally everywhere: lunchboxes, cartoons, talk shows, sold‑out arenas, you name it.
Hulkamania, WrestleMania & that impossible bodyslam
He headlined eight of the first nine WrestleManias, carried WWF on his massive shoulders, and became the guy every kid wanted to be. The image of him bodyslamming André the Giant at WrestleMania III is burned into sports history. It wasn’t just a move—it was a myth being born on live TV.
Reinventing himself: Hollywood Hogan & the nWo
When the 90s hit and wrestling changed, Hogan flipped the script—turning heel in WCW and forming the New World Order (nWo) with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in 1996. That moment basically redefined wrestling coolness and kicked off the Monday Night Wars in a way no one saw coming. Suddenly the clean-cut superhero was “Hollywood Hogan,” and it worked insanely well.
Titles, numbers & pure dominance
Across WWF/WWE and WCW, Hogan won 12 world championships and became the first-ever back-to-back Royal Rumble winner (1990 & 1991). His first WWF title reign lasted 1,474 days—still the longest of the WrestleMania era. Even when he wasn’t in the ring, he stayed the center of the story.
Beyond the ring: movies, reality TV & business
From Thunderlips in Rocky III to Thunder in Paradise, Mr. Nanny, and the reality series Hogan Knows Best, he kept jumping into mainstream pop culture. In 2024, he even launched Real American Beer. Like, he literally turned his catchphrase energy into a beverage line. Brother knew branding.
The controversies that followed him
His story isn’t perfect (and it’s okay to say that while still loving him). He dealt with:
- The Gawker sex-tape scandal and a massive verdict later reduced to a reported $31 million settlement.
- Racist remarks that got him temporarily removed from WWE’s Hall of Fame before being reinstated.
- Years of health issues, surgeries, and pain that he still showed up through—smiling, waving, being Hulk.
Family, love & the final years
Hogan married Sky Daily in 2023. He’s survived by Sky, his daughter Brooke, and son Nick—the two people he always seemed the softest around. Just weeks ago, his wife had denied rumors he was in a coma; today, we’re writing about him in past tense. That hurts. A lot.
Wealth & what he actually leaves behind
Money-wise, most outlets peg his net worth around $25 million—but honestly, his real wealth is the global, forever-lasting brand called Hulk Hogan. The shirts. The music. The catchphrases. The way wrestling felt when he cupped his ear to the crowd. That’s priceless.
Legacy: the most famous pro wrestler ever?
Some people argue it, but I genuinely think he’s the most recognizable wrestler in history. Stone Cold, The Rock, Cena—they all stood on the stage he built. Whether you cheered for the red and yellow or booed Hollywood black and white, you felt him. That’s legacy.
Final goodbye
Goodbye, Hulk Hogan. Thank you for the goosebumps, the prayers, the vitamins, the flexes, the drama, and the childhood memories you gifted to literally millions of us. We’ll miss you, forever.
FAQs
He suffered a suspected cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, on July 24, 2025. Official confirmation of the cause is still pending.
Born August 11, 1953.
Estimated at around $25 million.
He married Sky Daily in 2023. He had two children, Brooke and Nick, from his first marriage to Linda.
Bodyslamming André the Giant at WrestleMania III, forming the nWo in 1996, and winning back-to-back Royal Rumbles in 1990 & 1991.
